Shoe-tree.



PATENTEDA'PR. 18, 1905.

N. J. DOBEL.

SHOE TREE. APPLICATION FILED MARLIZ, 1904.

WITNESSES Q dmy.

. INVENTOR A/zckoLqsfQ ATTORNEY UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

NICKOLAS J DOB EL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SHOE-TREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 787,440, dated April 18, 1905.

I Application filed March 12, 190 Serial No. 197,741.

.To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, NIoKoLAs J. DoBEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Trees; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to .which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe-trees which are designed to restore and preserve the proper configuration of the shoe when not upon the foot of the wearer.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved tree of simple and durable construction which is adapted for shoes of varying widths and lengths and which can be quickly and readily adjusted into operative position within the shoe and as readily removed therefrom..

To this end my invention consists of certain details of construction, all of which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe. partly in section, with my improved tree applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of a detached detail of the tree. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the detached vamp shell or former. Fig. 4 is a rear end view of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the vamp shell or former, composed, preferably, of stiff fibrous material and of a suitable configuration to preserve the natural shape of the shoe when inserted therein. This shell is left open underneath to give it the proper resiliency to enable it to fit and stretch Vamps of varying widths. WVithin this shell 1 is secured the metallic reinforce 2, which practically covers the inner surface of the shell, as indicated by the. dotted lines in Fig. 3. This reinforce serves to preserve the proper contour of the fibrous shell and provide a foundation for the socket 3, to which is hinged the inner end of the member t of the toggle-lever. The outer or free end of this member iis provided with a lock 5, which consists of a turned-down lip adapted for holding or looking engagement with the other member 6 of the toggle-lever, which is pivoted to the first member 4 at a point 7 in front of the lock 5.

8 is the counter shell or former, preferably of metal, its rear wall 9 rising to'a considerable height in order to preserve the contour of the counter when pressed against the same.

, The member 6 has its rear end 10 screwthreaded to adapt it for the reception of the adjusting-nut 11, which operates between the two overlapping spaced ends 12 and 13 of the counter-shell 8 to lengthen or shorten the toggle-lever for varying lengths of shoes.

The two positions shown in Fig. 1 illustrate the insertion of the shoe-tree into its operative position. as well as its removal therefrom. The resilient vamp-shell 1 is inserted within the forward end of the shoe and the countershell 8 dropped into the heel portion, the two members tand f the toggle-lever forming an angle to each other, as shown in the upper position in Fig. 1. The two members .4 and 6 are next pushed down together until they are in line with each other, as shown in the lower position, the lock 5 on the member 4 engaging with the member 6. This action serves to force the two shells firmly into operative position against the vamp and counter of the shoe and preserve their proper contour when the shoe is not in use. The removal of the shoe is simply and easily effected by an upward pull on the toggle-lever, which separates its members and permits of the withdrawal of the tree from the shoe.

I claim- 1. A shoe-tree consisting of a vamp shell or former, a counter shell or former having overlapping spaced ends, a nut between such overlapping spaced ends, and an interposed toggle-lever comprising two members, one member pivoted to the vamp-shell and provided with a look at its outer or free end, and the other member adjustably engaging the nut between the overlapping spaced ends and pivotall y engaging the first member forward of the look, all combined and operating as and for the purpose stated.

2. A shoe-tree consisting of a vamp-former composed of an outer fibrous shell having an inner metallic reinforce, a counter shell or former having overlapping spaced ends, a nut between such overlapping spaced ends and an interposed toggle-lever comprisingtwo memhere, one member pivoted to the inner metallic reinforce and provided with a lock at its outer free end, and the other member adjustably engaging the nut between the overlapping spaced ends and pivotally engaging the first member forward of the look, all combined and operating as and for the purpose stated.

3. Ashoe-tree consisting faresilient vampformer composed of an outer fibrous shell, open underneath, and having an inner metallic reinforce, a counter shell or former having overlapping spaced ends, a nut between such overlapping spaced ends and an interposed toggle-lever comprising two members, one member pivoted to the inner metallic reinforce and provided with a look at its outer free end, and the other member adjustably engaging the nut between the overlapping spaced ends and pivotally engaging the first member forward of the look, all combined and operating as and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have signed in y name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

NICKOLAS J. DO BEL. Witnesses:

W. T. MILLER, (l. B. BUTLER. 

